Hot Cams dont seem to fit.

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I am trying to install a set of hot cams on my bike and they dont seem to spin as free as the stock ones when the cam holder in torqued down. it seems like a very tight fit where the barring sits in the head. plus the stock clips dont seem to stay in place. HELp some one i suck at these things and it is my first time.

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You say they aren't turning as easily? Is that with the cams torque down? Are you using a torque wrench? Also when fitting the new cam make sure to put a healthy amount of engine oil where the bearings run for the start up.

Good luck

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I have found that even some of the stockers don't spin free when new. The book calls for 7-8 ft/lbs torque but I only go to 5(60 in/lbs). I just put them in the lathe and polish the journals till they spin free. If they don't spin free, it is possible they might gall. Tdub

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I am trying to install a set of hot cams on my bike and they dont seem to spin as free as the stock ones when the cam holder in torqued down. it seems like a very tight fit where the barring sits in the head. plus the stock clips dont seem to stay in place. HELp some one i suck at these things and it is my first time.

USE A GOOD TORQUE WRENCH! Too tight and as stated above this may end in a bad way.

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I have found that even some of the stockers don't spin free when new. The book calls for 7-8 ft/lbs torque but I only go to 5(60 in/lbs). I just put them in the lathe and polish the journals till they spin free. If they don't spin free, it is possible they might gall. Tdub

Are you sure the book say's "7-8ft/lbs" I don't have the book in front of me, but I believe it's 8Nm which is ruffly 6ft/lbs.

Secondly - are your bolts oil free or do you have oil on them? If they're lubed you need to multiply your torque by .80 then use that figure and 5ft/lbs will work.

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If in doubt, follow the manul and get some plasti-guage from your local auto supply store and check the cam journal clearance. I don't have the spec's in front of me but it's a pretty tight fit, less than .001" if I recall.

Be sure and use some Moly Lube on the journal and cam face when installing the cams if you've done a rebuild and the oil pump is dry.

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I had the same problem when I had the head machined on my 426. I took it back to the head builder and he fixed it. I cannot remember what the problem was. But it was the same thing that happened to you. When I would torque it down they would not spin. All I can say is something is binding somewere.

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Be sure and use some Moly Lube on the journal and cam face when installing the cams if you've done a rebuild and the oil pump is dry.

Much of our motor oil contains a small amount of moly, but using a moly lube you are introducing massive amounts of moly that could possibly cause clutch plates to slip. If you do use a moly lube for a rebuild lube, use it sparingly and only apply a thin film.

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Much of our motor oil contains a small amount of moly, but using a moly lube you are introducing massive amounts of moly that could possibly cause clutch plates to slip. If you do use a moly lube for a rebuild lube, use it sparingly and only apply a thin film.

Has anyone tried straight STP motor treatment for an engine rebuild? I know a lot of old timers that used it for build stock cars motors and it has all the good stuff that meets the JASO requirement and is extremely viscous and slippery.

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ok glad to know its ok to do that. i have a guy across from my work that can builds engines and can do that for me. the shims i know are not that problem, i checked and they are all loose and out of spec. it has to be the journals or the bearing. i will check it next to the oem today and see what i find. thanks for all the help guys.

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You can get a cheap dial caliper from the local auto parts store and measure both cam journals or take them (both cams) to a machine shop to get them "miked". PLEASE TELL ME YOU REDID THE CAM BUCKET SHIMS. That is super important and will eventually destroy the bucket if not right (.2mm exhaust). There is a cam spec sheet with the cam that will tell you the base circle dimension as well as lift and duration. Check it to see if it matches with the dial caliper. For the record, my hotcams exhaust cam slid in easy, spun fine lit on the second kick. Runs great. You say the retaining clip doesn't fit. Why? No groove? Groove is too big? Do your cam retainers/towers have the seating dowels still in place? If they are lost, you can bolt them down too far forward or back. It doesn't take much. Either way, good luck to you Brother.

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A bolt that is lubricated with grease or a anti-seize compound creates less friction than a non-lubricated bolt. So, with the same amount of force, the lubricated bolt will obviously turn further than the non.

The lubricated bolt will turn approx. the same amount of distance as the non-lubricated bolt by using only ~80% of the force needed to turn the non-lubricated bolt that distance.

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I picked this info up at a Diesel Trade school I went to many years ago. Your torque coefficients change when any lubricants are applied, also you can run into a hydraulic lock state. Our factory manual show most fasteners are dry assembled, unless otherwise noted.

There's a good pocket reference book called, none other than "Pocket Ref" by Thomas J. Glover.